not this cute anymore!Keeping kids occupied while I am making dinner
is the HARDEST part of the day!
is the HARDEST part of the day!
When 4:00 hits, it's WWIII in my house--everyday! I am completely exhausted and the boys are bouncing off the walls. I honestly think I am a nice mom except from 4:00-6:00 pm. That's when I do ALL my yelling and feel like locking my kids in their room until dinner is prepared (actually, I usually feel like sending them to bed for the rest of the night without dinner...) What I hate most about this is that my husband comes home and I am always frustrated! I usually pretend like I am not, but I don't hide it well. I hate that I am in a great mood all day except for right before he walks through the door. I mean, what husband wants to come home to a flustered wife and crazy, snotty-nosed kids? Not mine.
Anyway, this last week has been SO much better and I thought I would share our "solution"... and this was all Aaron's idea, so I need to make sure to give him the credit. We now have DINNERTIME TOYS that are only to be played with while I am making dinner. These are my boys' favorite toys and are up on a shelf until 4:00. They ask to play with them at least 3 times during the day and my response is (in a very excited voice) "It's not time yet! You can play with them right before dinner!" When 4:00 rolls around, we quickly clean up the living room to get ready for their special toys. This keeps the kids occupied and gives me some time in the kitchen to make dinner and stay calm and collected. And we are all happy when Aaron walks through the door! Ben and Luke have to clean up their toys in time to set the table and Zack plays until we are sitting down... we need him out of our hair for as LONG as possible!
Anyway, this last week has been SO much better and I thought I would share our "solution"... and this was all Aaron's idea, so I need to make sure to give him the credit. We now have DINNERTIME TOYS that are only to be played with while I am making dinner. These are my boys' favorite toys and are up on a shelf until 4:00. They ask to play with them at least 3 times during the day and my response is (in a very excited voice) "It's not time yet! You can play with them right before dinner!" When 4:00 rolls around, we quickly clean up the living room to get ready for their special toys. This keeps the kids occupied and gives me some time in the kitchen to make dinner and stay calm and collected. And we are all happy when Aaron walks through the door! Ben and Luke have to clean up their toys in time to set the table and Zack plays until we are sitting down... we need him out of our hair for as LONG as possible!
And while I am talking about dinner helps, I thought I would post our weekly menu. This is hanging in my pantry and even though I am not a Nazi about following it everyday, it gives me some ideas. I try to do pasta only on Monday nights.. and usually Mexican on Tuesday.. etc. Of course, if I really feel like trying a new recipe, I don't stress about messing up our routine. But it really helps on those days that I am pacing the kitchen wondering what to make. And the funny thing about this is that Wednesday nights have become the night to look forward to.. why do breakfast foods make everyone happy?.. probably the sugary syrup.. I know it solves all my problems.
What DINNERTIME solutions do you have to share?I know I could use them!
ps. for more WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY tips, check out Shannon's blog.
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17 comments:
Janet-that is seriously the best idea with the toys. I think I'm going to try that!
I love your menu planner, I feel like we are in a real dinner rut, I'll have to try some of these! Good idea with the toys too!
What a great idea about the toys. Something we are "trying" in our house. Since there are only 3 of us, we often make enough for leftovers next night. So if each of us pick one meal (and prepare it) each week, we're good as there is always a night that is taken up at someone else's for dinner, or church, or eating out. Helps a bit to get my picky 15 year old to admit my food is at least tolerable and to give her practice cooking too. Sam
Janet,
I really wish we would have gotten to know each other better in High School. I read your blog every day and last night I found myself thinking about you while I was trying to fall asleep. (Sorry, don't be creeped out) I was thinking about how reading your blog has really helped me to feel better about being a stay at home mom, seeing the great things in being a parent and learning to pay closer attention to my kids needs and who they are. You really are an inspiration to me. I really look up to you! Thank you so much for being this example (I know, you didn't even know it) to me in the time that I truly need it the most! Hopefully this comment didn't wierd you out, I really do mean it! THANKS!
Shannon Weeks (Muncey)
I always make recipes that are like 40 minutes or less (unless it is the "cook all day" type thing.) I also use that time to have a dance party. My kids love it! Plus, it gives me a little energy too.
I do freezer meals...I get together once a month with 5 other ladies and we cook all night...we end up with 15 dinners that you pull out of the freezer and don't have to really think about. It's amazing- the best part is that there is hardly any cleanup! I'll send you info if you want it!
Dinner is really hard for me. My hubby is usually not home from work until way after dinner so it's hard to motivate myself to cook for a 3-year-old. Even if I do cook she doesn't eat much of it. So I find myself making sandwhiches and kid stuff almost everynight. Plus Nate gets dinner paid for by his work when he works a 10 hour day so he usually eats at work.
I do think I'll have to copy your meal plan though so that I can start being better at cooking.
Are you an undercover genious?
Now that I have two scouts and a husband that gets home between 7:00-8:00, My dinners are chaotic. I do have them help though. They can make salad ,chop vegies.
Thanks for your answer on the blogging. I will have to figure out the goggle reader thing.
I loved your post on home school. As you get into it, life gets more and more challenging and the stress of making sure that they are learning all they need for the SAT's is alittle stressful, thats where my self talk steps in to save me from the stress.
It seems though that people think because you are at home you can drop everything anytime. zthey don't realize it is a full tme job.
Dinner time is crazy! The last real meal I cooked... Weston walked around the kitchen crying the whole time but I had to cook dinner. Other than one day this week we have been on the road during dinnertime for softball and basketball games. It's hard because I actually want to eat at home but you can't when you aren't there. Good ideas. I'll remember them. I like your weekly menu.
I like your menu planned out for 3 weeks. WOW! I have two tips: 1. http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf They have easy, quick, tasty recipes (most with pictures)! They also have a feature on the 'Dinner' tab where you can type in up to 3 ingredients and it will pull up a list of recipe suggestions for you. Also, if you register on their site, you can subscribe to a quarterly FREE magazine with lots of good recipes.
2. I, like you, make a menu every week so I know what I'm going to make and I know I have everything I need to make it. My trick is I hang onto all those menus and compile a master meal idea list from it so when I'm making a new menu and can't think of anything to make that week, I can just look at my master list and get a quick idea. Makes the planning much easier, and planning ahead makes eating healthy easier as well.
I really like the menu planning. I may use some of those ideas.
what is Navajo flat bread? sounds intriguing and yummy!
Great idea to keep the kids occupied. Thanks.
I've been ill and some days too tied to cook. I learned to make crock pot meals in the morning while I still have energy. The energy level is at ground zero after 3 pm.
I have a blog about memes today on my other blog at http://heartofwisdom.com/blog mentioning WFMW.
Thanks.
These are GREAT ideas! I love your menu ideas too...I need to do this NOW! :)
I like to set up table activities for my boys while I'm cooking. That way I can keep an eye on them while they're sitting at the table, not fighting. ;-) Our table activities include: dry erase boards, playdough with cookie cutters, beads & pipe cleaners, paint with water books, stamps & construction paper, paper & scissors, magnets, puzzles, paper with stickers, simple board game (like fishing or operation), etc. I think that about covers it! Hope that gave you some ideas.
Great tip! I have the exact same problem. I just turn REAL ugly between 4pm and 6pm. I despise it. I did find a solution for the youngest. He's 20 months and goes nuts when he sees me start getting food out to make dinner. So I bought the teeny boxes of raisins (they are the 2" size) and have him sit down on the kitchen floor while I cook. It's worked marvelously. And when he's done with it, he's usually happy to finally go outside and play with his older sibs.
Thanks for the tip!
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